Daily Readings - Mon Aug 04 2025
Numbers
4And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?5We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick:6But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.7And the manna was as coriander seed, and the colour thereof as the colour of bdellium.8And the people went about, and gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in a mortar, and baked it in pans, and made cakes of it: and the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil.9And when the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell upon it.10Then Moses heard the people weep throughout their families, every man in the door of his tent: and the anger of the LORD was kindled greatly; Moses also was displeased.11And Moses said unto the LORD, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me?12Have I conceived all this people? have I begotten them, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing father beareth the sucking child, unto the land which thou swarest unto their fathers?13Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat.14I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me.15And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness.
Matthew
13When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.14And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.15And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.16But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.17And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.18He said, Bring them hither to me.19And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.20And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.21And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two distinct narratives that invite us to reflect on trust, gratitude, and God’s providence. The first reading from Numbers describes the Israelites’ discontent in the wilderness. Having grown tired of the manna provided by God, they yearn for the flesh and bounty they once enjoyed in Egypt. Their ingratitude and lack of faith lead to frustration, even for Moses, who feels the weight of leading such a complaining people. This passage reminds us of the human tendency to overlook God’s consistent provision and to focus instead on what we lack.
In contrast, the Gospel from Matthew presents a scene of profound trust and abundance. Jesus, moved by compassion for the crowds, takes five loaves and two fish and multiplies them to feed thousands. This miracle underscores God’s ability to provide beyond our wildest expectations when we trust in His plan. While the Israelites in the wilderness failed to see God’s goodness in the manna, Jesus reveals the true nature of God as a Father who satisfies our deepest needs.
These readings challenge us to examine our own attitudes toward life’s challenges and blessings. How often do we, like the Israelites, focus on what we lack rather than what we have? How readily do we trust in God’s providence, even when resources seem scarce? Jesus’ multiplication of the loaves and fish calls us to surrender our limitations to Him, trusting that He will transform them into abundance. Let us cultivate gratitude for the “manna” in our lives and place our trust in the God who always provides, even in the wilderness.